Societal Authority in Jane Austens Emma Essay - 2054 Words

However much we insist it is not true, our choices, actions, and thoughts are rarely uninfluenced by the conditions we are born into. Our culture and society play a huge role in the person we become, shaping our opinions and worldviews from birth. This truth is illustrated no better than in Jane Austen’s Emma. In Emma, Austen uses narrative style, characterization, and the plot device of word games to illustrate the ever-present power of hierarchical control. Emmas plot seemingly hovers around the superficial theme of strategic matchmaking. But while this is an important aspect of Emma, it serves primarily as a catalyst to illustrate the much bigger idea of societal authority present in the novel. Word games play a huge role in the†¦show more content†¦The games provide a limited example of perfection in society, and when Emma and Frank violate the rules of the anagram game, they are emulating the destructive effects of their social manipulations (Grey 182). Emma demonstrates in her collection of charades that she believes games should function in an impersonal way (Ferguson 9). She and Harriet have not only collected charades from their friends, but copied them from pre-existing anthologies, clearly indicating that the game itself is more important than its players. Society’s social game is played in much the same fashion, caring more for the rules than for those involved. Like all the forms of control in Emma, this one is subtle. Unspoken, yet understood. No one exemplifies this kind of subconscious control more than Mr. Woodhouse. On the surface, Mr. Woodhouse is the feeble-minded, ridiculous father figure who serves only as a comedic device. However, Mr. Woodhouse plays a major role in the thoughts, feelings, and actions of Highbury. Everyone, especially Emma, is concerned with Mr. Woodhouse’s comfort and well-being. This is not, as it would seem, solely a result of his infantile constitution, but also an indicator of the importance of his role as societal patriarch. It is almost second nature for the people of Highbury to acquiesce to Mr. Woodhouse’s wishes because his pleasure is their main preoccupationShow MoreRelatedMarriage: A Cover for the Reality Patriarchy1511 Words   |  7 Pagesmakes it seem impossible without wealth, a background of family fortune, or matrimony to a man labeled high class. Emma Woodhouse, from the novel Emma written by Jane Austen, defines what it means to seek stature through marriage and how couples can aid in contexts such as social groups. Austen clearly covers social groups in her novel, but making the novels focal point circumvent around Emma. We look beyond how class enables opportunity for women and see just how much power a woman has until she givesRead MoreJane Austen s Emma And Amy Heckerling s Clueless Essay1574 Words   |  7 PagesThough written over two centuries apart, the protagonists in Jane Austen’s Emma and Amy Heckerling’s Clueless, are very much alike. They are strong female characters of a certain social standing, that are expected to abide by a particular set of rules and adhere to societal norms. Unlike most young women, Austen’s Emma and Heckerling’s Cher are able to disregard social expectations ¬ — like Emma’s idea of marriage, and Cher’s idea of sex — simply because they are privileged and socially stable enoughRead MoreClueless: Social Class and Harriet Smith1179 Words   |  5 Pages Emma/Clueless †¢ Amy Heckerling’s teenpic comedy Clueless resonates the ideas, values and cultural assumptions evident in Jane Austen’s Emma †¢ Through the transformation of Austen’s text, several elements have been transformed and contemporised in the Heckerling’s Clueless ââ€" ª Make-over/transformation ââ€" ª Role of women in patriarchal society ââ€" ª Struggles of social classes: the mobility and fluidity of the class structure ââ€" ª Societal commentaryRead MoreFeminism, By Jane Austen1314 Words   |  6 Pagesnovel, Emma, Austen presents a view of feminism that, at this point in time is quite outstanding for her to do. Men were the dominant gender and in England women remained submissive to the men at all times. Women had specific roles in the household and in society. When the girls are young, they are expected to obey their fathers until they are grown and passed off to a husband so they are financially supported at all times during their life. Emma is a story about the everyday life of Emma WoodhouseRead MoreManners in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen3437 Words   |  14 Pages Pride and Prejudice Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice not only established her historical importance among scholars and critics, but continues to remain popular. Pride and Prejudice, a comedy of manners, was published in 1813, and is a staple of the English literature. It recreates the social world of the landed gentry of early 19th-century England and embodies the theme that preconceptions and egotism can overcome true love. Pride and Prejudice is somewhat autobiographical; emphasizes the key elementsRead More Shakespeare in Contemporary Movies Essay4875 Words   |  20 Pages(largely) Protestant country and the masses have long since rebelled against the authority of priests and their interpretations of sacred texts. Shakespeare is respected not just as literature but as a repository of great truths; at the same time, people often mistrust and reject him as too upper-class. Pacino does eventually allow a scholar to speak directly to the camera, but this serves only to undercut his authority. The man they find could have been called up from central casting--pale, bespectacled

Victor Frankenstein Destruction Through Discovery

Niral Patel Ms. Schaner 2nd AP Language 11 28 Oct. 2017 Destruction through Discovery Summarizing the theme of the novel, Victor Frankenstein stated, â€Å"If the study to which you apply yourself has a tendency to weaken your affections, and to destroy your taste for those simple pleasures in which no alloy can possibly mix, then that study is certainly unlawful, that is to say, not befitting the human mind† (34). When initially considered, the concept of â€Å"gaining knowledge† or â€Å"discovery† is generally viewed with a sense of positivity and hope. It is unexpected for there to be a novelist who presents such an idea to have negative implications; however, in her gothic literature Frankenstein, Mary Shelley illustrates that greed as a motivating†¦show more content†¦My cheek had grown pale with study, and my person had become emaciated with confinement†¦I seemed to have lost all soul or sensation but for this one pursuit.† (33). Frankenstein held immense devotion to the completion of the project, sacrificing his own vig or to continue his efforts. Ultimately, it is this level of greed which Frankenstein held to his passion that led to the demise of himself and those closest to him. Immediately after succeeding in bringing the being to life, Frankenstein abandons the monster in horror of what he had created. The monster goes through its own path of discovery only to find itself in a state of misery, which turns into anger against Frankenstein. The monster sets out and murders Frankenstein’s brother, best friend, and wife. Its ravages also indirectly lead to the deaths of Frankenstein’s father and family servant. These deaths put Frankenstein into a deep state of melancholia, which converts into indignation against the monster. Frankenstein dies on Walton’s ship, lonely and unsatisfied with his life, after pursuing the monster for months in hopes of retaliation. Frankenstein dies of agony, never successfully killing the monster. His insatiable hunger for discovery conveyed that k nowledge can not be sought purely out of greed, or else it will result in sorrowful ramifications. The monster s coveting of knowledge and discovery of that which it does not have resultsShow MoreRelatedEssay on Science, Technology, and Morality in Shelleys Frankenstein1098 Words   |  5 Pages Frankenstein and Sciencenbsp;nbsp; Science is the knowledge gained by a systematic study, knowledge which then becomes facts or principles. In the systematic study; the first step is observation, the second step hypothesis, the third step experimentation to test the hypothesis, and lastly the conclusion whether or not the hypothesis holds true. These steps have been ingrained into every student of science, as the basic pathway to scientific discovery. This pathway holds not decision as toRead MoreFrankenstein1237 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Literature: Frankenstein Essay Frankenstein is a gothic horror novel that was written by Mary Shelly and was published in 1818, when gothic aesthetic, romanticism and science were beginning to spike in western culture. The novel follows the story of Victor Frankenstein in creating a monster which causes destruction around him, as Victor had ambition and thirst to reveal the secrets of nature. The novel could be viewed as a warning to the readers and audience about having a greed for knowledgeRead MoreAnalysis Of Mary Shelley s Frankenstein 1685 Words   |  7 PagesShelley’s Frankenstein, written in 1818, explores the dangers of scientific endeavours attempting to domineer the sacred realm of nature through ego driven pursuits of knowledge and discovery. This exploration also extends to the destruction caused when a man’s hubris overrides his moral and spiritual discourses, damaging the nature of humanity and society. Shelley adopts an ambivalent attitude towards man kind’s search for advanc ement through the quest for knowledge, scientific discovery and the dominanceRead MoreDangers of Acquiring Knowledge Illustrated in Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein1075 Words   |  5 PagesKnowledge? Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein Although Mary Shelly did not have a formal education growing up motherless in the early nineteenth century, she wrote one of the greatest novels nonetheless in 1819, Frankenstein. The novel has been the basis for many motion picture movies along with many English class discussions. Within the novel Shelly shares the stories of two men from very different worlds. The reader is introduced to Robert Walton, the main narrator of the story, through letters written toRead MoreHumanity s Fault And Strength, Ambition For The Unknown1322 Words   |  6 PagesThe answer lies in the ambition to do what no one has accomplished, either in spite of upbringing, the will to pronounce uniqueness, or to accomplish something of importance in the hopes it provides advancement for humanity. For example, the book Frankenstein expels all the wrongs that can appear from tinkering with the idea of reanimation of what once died, but now walks among us once again. Reminding us of what could happen when the q uestion of could it be done becomes more important instead of shouldRead More The Victim of Victor Frankensteins Persistent Curiosity Essay example1516 Words   |  7 PagesIn Victor Frankenstein’s pursuit to discover â€Å"the cause of generation and life†, he creates something that becomes the victim of his self-absorption and irrational manner (Segal). Following some insight on the creation of life, scientist Victor Frankenstein decides to take science into his own hands and create a creature out of human cadavers. It is not until the creature comes to life that Victor ponders the perplexing appearance of the creature that is before him. As Victor looks upon the creatureRead MoreWarning Of The Dangers Of Science Or Suggestion That The Human1309 Words   |  6 PagesMatthew Tripp Susan Sibbach English IV 11 December, 2015 Frankenstein: warning of the dangers of science or suggestion that the human quest for knowledge is a noble undertaking? Human societies have come a long way from the time of hunting and gathering. Self-sufficient and possessing high capacity for questioning what systems are currently in place, and the astonishingly unique ability to discover solutions for problems; humankind is truly one of a kind. 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Horrified by his creation, Victor flees and spends the rest of his life hiding from and witnessing horrendous acts by the creature he so desperately wanted to create. Throughout Frankenstein, there are two central motifs, fire and

Lord of the Flies Roger Character Study Free Essays

Roger is one of the antagonists in the novel, Lord of the Flies, and the decisions that he makes have major impact on the unfolding of the story. He is introduced as a slightly built boy who is shy, secretive and keeps to himself. Rather than let Jack automatically become the leader, Roger suggests that they have a vote. We will write a custom essay sample on Lord of the Flies Roger Character Study or any similar topic only for you Order Now This demonstrates how at the start he was a civilized person who knew what was proper and just to do, rather than simply allowing the loudest voice to get their way. Roger is shown to be a bully as he constantly picks on the littluns by destroying their sandcastles, throwing sand in their eyes and throwing rocks at them. By Rogers own nature he really wanted to hit the boys with the stones but was held back by society’s conditioning of his behavior and as a result missed every time. In the hunt his true sadistic nature is further evidenced by his excessive violence towards the pig. This all demonstrates that he had made a conscious decision to follow Jack rather than Ralph as this allowed him to foster his dark intentions even though he knew that this was morally wrong. He chose to be involved in the frenzy that lead to the brutal murder of Simon and afterwards showed no remorse for his actions. Therefore civilization was being removed as an inhibiting factor and Roger became increasingly more primitive and savage in his behaviour. When Roger hears of Jack’s intentions to beat Wilfred he hurries back to the tribe so that he can torture him himself, showing the further lost of any control society once had on him. When he was looking down at Piggy from his vantage point at Castle Rock, his only thoughts about Piggy were that he was a â€Å"bag of fat†, highlighting Rogers’s now clearly evident complete lack of empathy for others. By this stage Roger is well and truly a savage with no more restraints of civilization and because of this he gave into his sadistic urges and pushed the boulder off the cliff, killing Piggy. In dealing with newly captive Sam and Eric, Roger asserts authority through violence and forces them to join the tribe and tell him of Ralph’s whereabouts, expressing his disregard for conventional authority. The next day Roger sets out with Jack on the hunt for Ralph with the intention of killing him and impaling him so that he can offer him to the Beast. At this point Roger exemplifies the complete breakdown of the boys’ behaviour from a civilized Christian background to a Pagan tribe. However he is stopped utterly in his tracks when the naval officer appears and he is dragged back to reality. In a flash the sight of a representative of civilisation from a screaming savage and has brought back all the memories of humanity. Rogers’s decisions reflect how his character gradually disintegrated under the breakdown of order. To me Roger is a despicable and reprehensible character who illustrates the worst aspects of humanity. How to cite Lord of the Flies Roger Character Study, Papers